but I find it disconcerting that the bold button has a different behavior based on whether the cell is empty or not. If you want to put a bold number in an empty cell you can click on the cell and then click on bold and then the number, but if there already is a number in the cell you have to clock on the cell, click on the number, click on the cell again and click on bold.

For the 2nd case (number already in cell) I do the following:- click on the cell- click on bold on/offThis bolds the number and closes the number pad. This doesn't work on your browser/tablet?

but I find it disconcerting that the bold button has a different behavior based on whether the cell is empty or not. If you want to put a bold number in an empty cell you can click on the cell and then click on bold and then the number, but if there already is a number in the cell you have to clock on the cell, click on the number, click on the cell again and click on bold.

For the 2nd case (number already in cell) I do the following:- click on the cell- click on bold on/offThis bolds the number and closes the number pad. This doesn't work on your browser/tablet?

Patrick

I was talking about the case where the number already in the cell is incorrect. For example, let's say I want to put a bold 7 in a cell. If the cell is currently empty I click on the cell, click bold, click 7. If the cell has a 3 in it and I try to click on the cell, click bold and click 7, the number pad disappears before I can click on the 7 and I end up with a bold 3 in the cell.

I was talking about the case where the number already in the cell is incorrect. For example, let's say I want to put a bold 7 in a cell. If the cell is currently empty I click on the cell, click bold, click 7. If the cell has a 3 in it and I try to click on the cell, click bold and click 7, the number pad disappears before I can click on the 7 and I end up with a bold 3 in the cell.

Hm, tough one.

Because you see how it's meant to be: "now I know this number is correct, so let's bold it".

Maybe the pad should stay open then when you bold a cell that already has a number?

Wouldn't you have to remove the 3 before bolding another number in that cell.......I have inadvertently tried to insert a bold number into a cell with a number already present but all I get is bolding the number that is already present.

Wouldn't you have to remove the 3 before bolding another number in that cell.......I have inadvertently tried to insert a bold number into a cell with a number already present but all I get is bolding the number that is already present.

Yes, that's supposed to happen. It really is a question of what is most common and most natural, and to make that happen

In any case, for the one user who asked for the bold button to retain state, I've put in some custom code,so it behaves like that _only_ for his account.

What would be really cool, but probably very difficult to implement, is a layering system like graphics programs typically have, for performing experiments. Probably difficult to come up with a decent UI as well.

I accomplish this now by saving the puzzle, using the bold function on the one cell I want to recall as the "what if" cell, and if the experiment fails I reload from the saved state afterwhich I can remove that one "what if" as a possibility.

Multiple layers is even more tedious: I save, then load the puzzle in a different browser tab.If I've got a full size computer, I usually screen grab to a graphics program (gimp) and scribble in there. This is only needed for the puzzles that are difficult for me.